The Pokemon Company has announced an ambitious plan to ramp up production of future Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) sets and expansions to keep up with the surging demand. This news follows the recent cancellation of pre-orders for the Destined Rivals set, which blindsided many fans. Lately, getting ahold of new Pokemon TCG packs and boxes on release day has become a bit of a quest in itself due to the skyrocketing demand.
Even with the popularity of the Dragonite mobile game, die-hard Pokemon enthusiasts still find excitement in the hands-on experience of collecting physical cards. Building competitive decks and dueling with friends remains a cherished pastime. However, the spike in demand coupled with resellers trying to cash in has made snagging the latest cards more challenging. In response, GameStop has halted pre-orders, and retailers have slapped purchase limits on highly sought-after items. The Pokemon Center has also instituted a queue system to ensure fans have an equitable shot at buying new products as they’re released. But fans’ frustrations reached a boiling point when their pre-orders for the Destined Rivals set disappeared without explanation.
Recognizing the issue, The Pokemon Company reassured its community via a post on their website. They’re pulling out all the stops to ramp up production of upcoming TCG sets, aiming to make them more accessible at launch. Additionally, they’re committing to reprint popular items, which will soon replenish stocks at the Pokemon Center and participating retail outlets.
Moreover, the company is dedicated to refining the shopping experience by possibly leveraging new technologies, minimizing the chances of another round of pre-order cancellations like those that befell the Destined Rivals set. Despite the absence of specifics on these improvements, they’re clearly on the hunt for innovative solutions to enhance the Pokemon Center’s online shopping.
It’s still uncertain if these efforts will quench the thirst of eager TCG collectors, but release schedules remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. Fans can look forward to exciting new releases, like the upcoming Glory of Team Rocket expansion in April for Japanese fans, and Destined Rivals carrying the Team Rocket theme beyond Japan in May.
